Method formatting a disk recording medium and information recording apparatus

ABSTRACT

An apparatus ( 22 ) for recording and reproducing digital information uses a disk recording medium ( 23 ) in which data recording area is divided into plural zones in the radial direction, and defect information is managed for each zone. The apparatus comprises a formatting portion ( 26 ) for executing the formatting process of the disk recording medium ( 23 ), a detecting portion ( 24 ) for obtaining defect information that were detected in the last formatting process of the disk recording medium ( 23 ), and a controlling portion ( 25 ) for informing the formatting portion ( 26 ) of a zone to be formatted next in the decreasing order of the number of defects in accordance with the defect information obtained by the detecting portion ( 24 ).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a method of formatting a diskrecording medium in which data recording area is divided into pluralzones in the radial direction, and defect information is managed foreach of the plural zones, a recording medium that is formatted by thismethod and an apparatus for recording and reproducing digitalinformation using the disk recording medium.

[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0004] Recently, a process time necessary for formatting (i.e.,initializing) a disk recording medium such as an optical disc or amagneto-optic disk becomes longer because of high density and largestorage capacity. For example, a magneto-optic disk (MO) having thestorage capacity of 1.3 gigabytes that has been in the practical userecently requires approximately 20 minutes of process time. Amagneto-optic disk having the storage capacity of 2.6 gigabytes that isunder development will requires nearly an hour of process time forformatting process. The term “format” in this specification meansso-called physical format.

[0005] In the formatting process, certification is performed, i.e., apredetermined bit pattern is recorded over the entire data recordingarea and reproduced for verifying. If a defect (a defective sector) isdetected, an alternative sector is assigned, and a list of thealternation information is recorded in a management informationrecording area that is called a defect management area (DMA). Normally,four DMA areas are provided to a disk recording medium, i.e., two at themost inner radius and two at the most outer radius of the disk, andmemorize the same alternation information.

[0006] A recent disk recording medium normally has a data recording areathat is divided into plural zones in the radial direction. A rotationspeed is changed for each zone in the ZCAV type, while a linear speedfor reading is changed for each zone in the ZCLV type. A spare area forthe above-mentioned alternative sector is provided to each zone. Forexample, the data recording area of a magneto-optic disk having thestorage capacity of 640 megabytes is divided into eleven zones, whilethe data recording area of a magneto-optic disk having the storagecapacity of 1.3 gigabytes is divided into eighteen zones. In accordancewith the kind of a disk recording medium, a term “band” is used insteadof “zone”.

[0007] Conventionally, in an inspection stage of a disk recording media,for example, the above-mentioned formatting process is performed by aunit of plural sectors sequentially from the inner radius to the outerradius of the disk recording medium or in the opposite direction. Forexample, in a magneto-optic disk having storage capacity of 128megabytes, 230 megabytes, 540 megabytes or 640 megabytes, a logicalstart address (LBA0) is located in the most inner radius. In thesemagneto-optic disks, the formatting process is performed sequentiallyfrom the inner radius to the outer radius. In a magneto-optic diskhaving storage capacity of 1.3 gigabytes, a logical start address (LBA0)is located in the most outer radius, and the formatting process isperformed sequentially from the outer radius to the inner radius.

[0008] An example of the conventional formatting process will beexplained with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. FIG. 1 is a block diagramconcerning the formatting process of the conventional magneto-optic diskdrive. FIG. 2 shows a table of the order of the formatting process. FIG.3 is a flowchart of the formatting process.

[0009] When a host 11 issues the command for a formatting magneto-opticdisk 13 to a magneto-optic disk drive 12 (Step #101), a formattingportion 14 of the magneto-optic disk drive 12, as shown in FIG. 2,determines the formatting order of zone of the magneto-optic disk 13 inaccordance with the ascending order of the logical address (Step #102).Erasing, writing and verifying processes are performed for each zone. Ifan error occurs, retry processes are repeated for predetermined times(Step #103). Write data are initializing data that can be set, e.g., ahexadecimal value “CF23” as a default value.

[0010] If the error is not canceled by the retry (YES in Step #104), thesector is considered to be a defective sector, and an alternative sectoris assigned and defect information (i.e., a primary defect location;PDL) is registered in the DMA (Step #106). Before Step #106, it ischecked whether the accumulated number of defects has exceeded theallowable total number of defects (Step #105). The allowable totalnumber of defects is determined as a standardized value in accordancewith the kind of a recording medium. For example, total 4,437 defectsare allowed to a magneto-optic disk having the storage capacity of 1.3gigabytes. If the number of defects has exceeded the standardized value,the magneto-optic disk drive 12 halts the formatting process and informsthe host 11 of an error that the number of defects has exceeded thestandardized value, i.e., of a defect number exceeding error (Step#110). In this case, the magneto-optic disk 13 cannot be used since theformatting process has not been completed.

[0011] If the number of defects does not exceed the standardized value,the formatting process continues. When the format of the designated zonehas finished (YES in Step #107), the next zone is formatted by repeatingthe formatting process. When all zones have been formatted (YES in Step#108), the magneto-optic disk drive 12 informs the host 11 of normalcompletion of the formatting process (Step #109) and finishes theprocess.

[0012] The above-mentioned physical format is performed for erasing alldata of a recording medium or for reexamining a recording medium andreregistering defective sectors so that the recording medium can be usedsecurely after long term use has increased errors or elongated accesstime of the recording medium.

[0013] As explained above, since the conventional formatting process isperformed sequentially from the inner radius to the outer radius of thedisk recording medium or in the opposite direction in accordance withthe ascending order of the logical address, the defect number exceedingerror can occur in the final zone or just before the final zone. In thiscase, the process time used for the formatting process before that iswasted since the recording medium cannot be used. As mentioned above,almost 20 minutes can be waste in the case of formatting a magneto-opticdisk having the storage capacity of 1.3 gigabytes.

[0014] This time loss can be an obstacle to productivity improvement inan inspection stage of a disk recording media. In addition, when a userperforms the physical format of a disk recording medium, it would not beendurable if the recording medium cannot be used because of formattingerror after waiting for the long formatting process time.

[0015] Furthermore, a user has to wait a long time before the physicalformat is completed in the conventional formatting process even if onlya part of the recording area of the recording medium is used, since theconventional formatting process performs the physical format of allareas.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0016] The object of the present invention is to detect the defectnumber exceeding error at the earliest possible time in the formattingprocess of a disk recording medium if the recording medium becomesunusable because of the defect number exceeding error finally. Anotherobject of the present invention is to shorten the time necessary for thephysical format.

[0017] A method of the present invention for formatting a disk recordingmedium comprises the steps of dividing a data recording area of the diskrecording medium into plural zones in the radial direction, formattingthe plural zones in a discontinuous order, and managing defectinformation for each of the plural zones.

[0018] A disk recording medium of the present invention comprises a datarecording area being divided into plural zones in the radial direction,a defect management area for managing defect information for each of theplural zones, and the plural zones being formatted in a discontinuousorder.

[0019] An apparatus of the present invention for recording andreproducing digital information uses a disk recording medium in which adata recording area is divided into plural zones in the radialdirection, and defect information is managed for each of the pluralzones. A first aspect of the apparatus comprises means for formattingthe disk recording medium, means for detecting defect information of thedisk recording medium, and means for controlling the order of format byinforming the formatting means of a zone to be formatted next in thedecreasing order of the number of defects in accordance with the defectinformation detected by the detecting means.

[0020] A second aspect of the apparatus comprises means for formattingthe disk recording medium, means for detecting medium information suchas a manufacturer of the disk recording medium, and means forcontrolling the order of format by informing the formatting means of azone to be formatted next in the preregistered order corresponding tothe medium information detected by the detecting means. Preferably, adefect probability for each zone (a characteristic table) that alters inaccordance with the medium information such as a manufacturer ismemorized in a memory of the controlling means.

[0021] A third aspect of the apparatus comprises means for formattingthe disk recording medium, and means for controlling the order of formatby informing the formatting means of a zone to be formatted next at aninterval of one or more zones and of the neighboring zones if the numberof defects in the zone is higher than the threshold value.

[0022] Preferably, in the first through the third aspects of theapparatus, the disk recording medium is a land and groove recording typein which data are recorded in both lands and grooves, defect informationof each zone is managed for lands and grooves separately, and the orderof format is determined for the lands and the grooves of each zone.

[0023] In a fourth aspect, the apparatus formats a DMA area forrecording the defect information before formatting a user data area, andfinishes the formatting process as an error without formatting the userdata area if a defect occurs during the formatting process of the DMAarea.

[0024] Preferably, plural DMA areas for recording the same defectinformation are provided at plural positions of the disk recordingmedium, and the apparatus formats the user data area from the zone inwhich the DMA area having a defect is included if a part of the DMAareas has a defect and other parts have no defect.

[0025] According to the above-mentioned formatting method andinformation recording and reproducing apparatus, the formatting processis performed not in sequential order from the inner radius to the outerradius of the disk recording medium or in the opposite direction inaccordance with the order of the logical address as conventional, but inthe discontinuous order such as the decreasing order of the number ofdefects that were detected in the last format or the number of potentialdefects that can be prefigured in accordance with characteristics of thedisk recording medium. Therefore, when the defect number exceeding erroroccurs, it can be detected at an earlier stage than the conventionalformatting process in which the format is performed in accordance withthe order of the logical address.

[0026] Another method according to the present invention for formattinga disk recording medium that has a data recording area being dividedinto plural zones in the radial direction and defect information beingmanaged for each of the plural zones comprises the steps of obtainingSDL (secondary defect location) information of the disk recording mediumby defect information obtaining means, detecting zones having the SDLinformation as zones to be certified, and certifying only the zones thatwere detected to be certified by erasing, writing and verifying.

[0027] Still another method according to the present invention forformatting a disk recording medium comprises the steps of reading dataof each zone by initialized data reading portion, detecting zones havingdata except initialized data as zones to be certified, and certifyingonly the zones that were detected to be certified by erasing, writingand verifying. In order to decide whether a zone is to be certified ornot, the initialized data reading portion can read all data of eachzone. However, it is preferable that the initialized data readingportion read a part of data, e.g., a predetermined number of sectors ofthe leading portion, the middle portion and the end portion of eachzone.

[0028] It is preferable that the above-mentioned formatting methodsfurther comprise the step of informing a host of the time until thefinish of the formatting process by process time informing means.

[0029] It is also preferable that the above-mentioned formatting methodsfurther comprise the step of performing quasi certification of the zonesthat were not detected to be certified. As the quasi certify, there aretwo well-known methods. In one method, only a read check of data isperformed. In the other method, only a read check of ECC (data forcheck) is performed.

[0030] According to the above-mentioned formatting method, total timenecessary for the physical format can be shortened since thecertification including the steps of erasing, writing and verifying isnot executed for zones that do not need the certification, or the quasicertification is executed for these zones instead of the normalcertification.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031]FIG. 1 is a block diagram concerning the formatting process of theconventional magneto-optic disk drive.

[0032]FIG. 2 shows a table of the order of the formatting process.

[0033]FIG. 3 is a flowchart of the formatting process in theconventional magneto-optic disk drive.

[0034]FIG. 4 is a block diagram concerning the formatting process of amagneto-optic disk drive according to the first embodiment of thepresent invention.

[0035]FIG. 5 shows a table of the formatting process order in themagneto-optic disk drive corresponding to a first embodiment of thepresent invention.

[0036]FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the formatting process in themagneto-optic disk drive corresponding to the first embodiment of thepresent invention.

[0037]FIG. 7 shows a table of the formatting process order in themagneto-optic disk drive according to a second embodiment of the presentinvention.

[0038]FIG. 8 is a flowchart of the formatting process in themagneto-optic disk drive according to the second embodiment of thepresent invention.

[0039]FIG. 9 shows a table of the formatting process order in themagneto-optic disk drive according to a third embodiment of the presentinvention.

[0040]FIG. 10 is a flowchart of the formatting process in themagneto-optic disk drive according to the third embodiment of thepresent invention.

[0041]FIG. 11 shows a map of a magneto-optic disk concerning a fourthembodiment of the present invention.

[0042]FIG. 12 shows a structure of a physical address indicatinginformation of a sector that is a unit for data recording in the datarecording area.

[0043]FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a process that the controllingportion of the magneto-optic disk drive performs in the fourthembodiment of the present invention.

[0044]FIG. 14 shows a table of the information memorized in the DMAinspection result memory portion of the magneto-optic disk driveaccording to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

[0045]FIG. 15 is a detail flowchart of the process formatting the userdata area in the magneto-optic disk drive according to the fourthembodiment of the present invention.

[0046]FIG. 16 shows a table of an example of calculating the number ofthe band to be formatted next in accordance with the data memorized inthe inspection result memory portion of the magneto-optic disk driveaccording to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

[0047]FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing an example in which the firstembodiment is combined to the fourth embodiment of the present inventionfor determining the order of the user data area formatting.

[0048]FIG. 18 shows a table of information memorized in the format ordermemorizing portion of the magneto-optic disk drive according to thefourth embodiment of the present invention.

[0049]FIG. 19 shows a table of information memorized in the format ordermemorizing portion when the magneto-optic disk is a land and groove typerecording medium in which data are recorded both in lands and grooves.

[0050]FIG. 20 is a block diagram concerning a formatting process of amagneto-optic disk drive according to a fifth embodiment of the presentinvention.

[0051]FIG. 21 shows the first half of a flowchart of a physicalformatting process according to the fifth embodiment of the presentinvention.

[0052]FIG. 22 shows the latter half of a flowchart of a physicalformatting process according to the fifth embodiment of the presentinvention.

[0053]FIG. 23 is a block diagram concerning a formatting process of amagneto-optic disk drive according to a sixth embodiment of the presentinvention.

[0054]FIG. 24 shows the first half of a flowchart of a physicalformatting process according to the sixth embodiment of the presentinvention.

[0055]FIG. 25 shows the latter half of a flowchart of a physicalformatting process according to the sixth embodiment of the presentinvention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0056] Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained in detailwith reference to embodiments and accompanied drawings.

[0057] A first embodiment of the present invention will be explainedwith reference to FIGS. 4 to 6. FIG. 4 is a block diagram concerning theformatting process of a magneto-optic disk drive according to a firstembodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 shows a table of theformatting process order. FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the formattingprocess.

[0058] As an example, a magneto-optic disk 23 that was formatted isformatted again. In this case, defect information (e.g., the number ofdefects, physical addresses of the defects) of the magneto-optic disk 23that was detected in the last formatting process is recorded in the DMAarea. If the magneto-optic disk 23 has been used for a long time, thenumber of defects may increase because the recording film may bedeteriorated since the last formatting process. However, thedistribution of the number of defects for each zone does not alterusually. Therefore, there is a high possibility that the zone havingmany defects at the last formatting process will have many defects inthe new formatting process, too.

[0059] When the magneto-optic disk 23 is inserted in a magneto-opticdisk drive 22, a detecting portion 24 of the magneto-optic disk drive 22obtains defect information of the last formatting process that isrecorded in the DMA area (Step #201). When a host 21 issues a commandfor formatting the magneto-optic disk 23 to the magneto-optic disk drive22 (Step #202), a controlling portion. 25 of the magneto-optic diskdrive 22 informs the formatting portion 26 of a zone to be formatted inthe decreasing order of the number of defects in accordance with thedefect information of the last formatting process obtained by thedetecting portion 24 (Step #203).

[0060] In the example of FIG. 5, the formatting process starts from No.15 zone having the most defects. Then, the formatting process isperformed in the order of No. 11 zone, No. 2 zone, No. 8 zone and No. 5zone. After that, zones having no defect are formatted in the order ofzone number.

[0061] In Step #204, the designated zone is formatted. If an erroroccurs, retrials are performed predetermined times. If the error is notcanceled after the retrials (YES in Step #205), it is considered thatthe sector is a defective sector, and an alternative sector is assignedto the sector, which is registered as defect information in the DMA(Step #207). However, before the process, the accumulated number ofdefects up to then is checked. If the accumulated number of defects hasexceeded the allowable total number of defects, the formatting processis halted and the host 21 is informed of the occurrence of the defectnumber exceeding error (Step #211).

[0062] If the number of defects has not succeeded the allowable totalnumber, the formatting process continues. When the formatting process ofthe designated zone is finished (YES in Step #208), the next zone isformatted in the same way. When all zones are formatted (YES in Step#209), the host 21 is informed of the normal completion of theformatting process (Step #210), and the process is finished.

[0063] According to this embodiment, the formatting process is executedin the decreasing order of the potential defects that can be prefiguredin accordance with the defect information detected in the lastformatting process. Therefore, when the defect number exceeding erroroccurs, it can be detected at an earlier stage than the conventionalformatting process in which the format is performed in accordance withthe order of the logical address. In other words, the waiting time untilthe defect number exceeding error occurs can be shortened.

[0064] Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will beexplained with reference to FIGS. 4, 7 and 8. FIG. 7 shows a table ofthe formatting process order in the magneto-optic disk drive accordingto the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a flowchartof the formatting process. The block diagram concerning the formattingprocess is the same as the first embodiment shown in FIG. 4.

[0065] In the present embodiment, the formatting process is executed inthe decreasing order of the number of potential defects in accordancewith medium information such as a manufacturer that is recorded ascontrol track information of the magneto-optic disk 23. In general, amagneto-optic disk has a tendency of uneven distribution of defects inthe inner or the outer zone depending on a manufacturer or otherfactors. Therefore, the execution of the formatting process in thedecreasing order of the number of potential defects in accordance withmedium information such as a manufacturer can shorten the waiting timein the formatting process until the defect number exceeding error occursin the same way as the first embodiment.

[0066] When the magneto-optic disk 23 is inserted in the magneto-opticdisk drive 22, the detecting portion 24 of the magneto-optic disk drive22 obtains the medium information that is recorded in the control trackinformation area (Step #301). When the host 21 issues a command forformatting the magneto-optic disk 23 to the magneto-optic disk drive 22(Step #302), the controlling portion 25 of the magneto-optic disk drive22 informs the formatting portion 26 of a zone to be formatted in thedecreasing order of the number of potential defects that is registeredcorresponding to each medium information that is detected by thedetecting portion 24 (Step #303).

[0067] In the example of FIG. 7, the formatting process starts from No.15 zone whose number of the potential defects is the largest. Then, theformatting process is performed in the order of No. 11 zone, No. 2 zone,No. 8 zone and No. 5 zone. After that, zones whose number of thepotential defects is the smallest are formatted in the order of zonenumber.

[0068] The controlling portion 25 memorizes a table of the relationshipbetween the medium information such as a manufacturer and the decreasingorder of the number of potential defects in advance. The controllingportion 25 determines the order of zones to be formatted by referringthis table with the medium information obtained by the detecting portion24. The medium information that is used for estimating the decreasingorder of the number of potential defects can include not only themanufacturer but also a production lot number and a stamper (die) numberused in the manufacturing process.

[0069] The process from Step #304 through Step #311 in FIG. 8 is thesame as the Step #204 through Step #211 of the first embodiment shown inFIG. 6, so the explanation is omitted.

[0070] Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will beexplained with reference to FIGS. 4, 9 and 10. FIG. 9 shows a table ofthe formatting process order in the magneto-optic disk drive accordingto the third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a flowchartof the formatting process. The block diagram concerning the formattingprocess is the same as the first embodiment shown in FIG. 4.

[0071] In the present embodiment, the magneto-optic disk 23 has thestorage capacity of 1.3 gigabytes, and the data recording area isdivided into 18 zones. The allowable maximum number of defects is 4,437.It is assumed that zones of No. 0 through No. 12 have no defect, andzones of No. 13 through No. 17 have 100, 500, 1,000, 2,000 and 838defects, respectively as shown in FIG. 9, though it is an extremeexample. In this case, since the total number of defects is 4,438exceeding the allowable maximum number of defects 4,437, a defect numberexceeding error occurs. If the formatting process is exceeded in thecontinuous order from No. 0 zone to No. 17 zone as in the conventionalmethod, the defect number exceeding error will occur Just before theformatting process time (approximately 20 minutes) passes.

[0072] In the present embodiment, the controlling portion 25 informs theformatting portion 26 of a zone to be formatted next at an interval ofone or more zones. In an example of FIG. 9, zones are formatted at theinterval of two zones such a way as No. 0 zone, No. 3 zone and No. 6zone. If the number of defects in a zone is larger than a predeterminedthreshold, zones neighboring the current zone are designated to beformatted prior to the next zone at the interval and informed to theformatting portion 26.

[0073] In the example of FIG. 9, the threshold is preset to 200. Theformatting process proceeds at the interval of two zones to the sixthzone of No. 15, when the number of defects exceeds the threshold of 200.If the number of defects in No. 15 zone does not exceed the threshold of200, the formatting process goes on from the No. 1 zone at the intervalof zones. However, the number of defects exceeds 200 (becomes 1,000) inthe example of FIG. 9, so the unformatted zones neighboring the No. 15zone are formatted prior to the next zone at the interval. In theexample of FIG. 9, total four zones, i.e., two zones before and the twozones after the No. 15 zone (No. 13, 14, 16 and 17 zones) areunformatted. Therefore, these four zones are formatted before backing toNo. 1 zone so as to continue the formatting process at the interval oftwo zones.

[0074] However, in the example of FIG. 9, when No. 17 zone that is thetenth object of the formatting process is formatted, the accumulatednumber of defects becomes 4,438, which exceeds the allowable maximumnumber of defects of 4,437. Thus, a defect number exceeding erroroccurs. Namely, the defect number exceeding error occurs earlier thanthe conventional method in which the defect number exceeding erroroccurs in the eighteenth (the last) zone, so that the waste of time canbe reduced.

[0075] In the flowchart shown in FIG. 10, the detecting portion 24obtains the medium information of the magneto-optic disk 23 (Step #401).Then, the host 21 issues the format command to the magneto-optic diskdrive 22 (Step #402). The controlling portion 25 informs the formattingportion 26 of the zone to be formatted next at the interval of one orplural zones (i.e., in a discontinuous order) as explained above (Step#404). However, after the second repeating process, it is checkedwhether the number of defects in the previously formatted zone hasexceeded the threshold (Step #403). If the number of defects has notexceeded the threshold, the next zone to be formatted is designated atthe interval (in a discontinuous order) as explained above. If thenumber of defects has exceeded the threshold, zones neighboring thecurrent zone arc informed to the formatting portion 26 as the next zoneto be formatted (Step #405). The process from Step #406 through Step#413 is the same as the Step #204 through Step #211 of the firstembodiment shown in FIG. 6, so the explanation is omitted.

[0076] This embodiment utilizes the characteristics that zones havingmany defects have the tendency to gather in an area and the formattingprocess is executed at the interval of one or more zones (in adiscontinuous order), so that the area having many defects can bedetected as early as possible. If a zone whose number of defects islarger than the threshold is detected, zones neighboring the currentzone are formatted next, since there is high possibility that thesezones also have defects. Thus, if the magneto-optic disk 23 generatesthe defect number exceeding error, it can occur at as early stage aspossible in the formatting process.

[0077] Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will beexplained.

[0078]FIG. 11 shows a map of a magneto-optic disk concerning a fourthembodiment of the present invention. The magneto-optic disk of thisembodiment has a data recording area that is divided into twenty-twobands (Band #1 through Band #22). These bands correspond to the zones inthe above-explained embodiment in which the data recording area isdivided into plural zones in the radial direction. It depends on thekind of a disk recording medium which term is used, “zone” or “band,”though there is not a special difference between them. In themagneto-optic disk of FIG. 11, the first band (Band #1) includes two DMAareas (DMA #1 and DMA #2), and the 22nd band (Band #22) includes two DMAareas (DMA #3 and DMA #4).

[0079]FIG. 12 shows a structure of a physical address indicatinginformation of a sector that is a unit for data recording in the datarecording area. In this example, the physical address is made of fourbytes including five bits of band number, twelve bits of track numberand seven bits of frame number. In addition, one bit of flag is includedfor recognizing a land or a groove in the case of a land and grooverecording type magneto-optic disk in which data are recorded in bothlands and grooves.

[0080]FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a process that the controllingportion of the magneto-optic disk drive of this embodiment performs. Theblock diagram concerning the formatting process is the same as theabove-mentioned embodiments shown in FIG. 4.

[0081] When receiving the format command from the host 21 (Step #501),the controlling portion 25 of the magneto-optic disk drive 22 executesthe format (also referred to as certification) of the DMA #1 area first(Step #502 and Step #503). In this process, predetermined data (e.g.,data incrementing from zero) are written on each sector from the leadingsector to the end sector of the DMA #1. Then, the data are read out andare verified. As a result, if a defective sector is detected (YES inStep #504), it is memorized in a DMA inspection result memory portionshown in FIG. 14 that there is a DMA defect. Namely, a DMA #1 flag isreset (Step #505). If the defective sector is not detected (NO in Step#504), the DMA #1 flag is set (Step #506).

[0082] Next, the DMA number is incremented (Step #507), and the DMA #2area is formatted by the formatting process from. Step #503 through Step#506. In the same way, the above-mentioned process is repeated until theDMA #4 area is formatted (YES in Step #508). Though four DMA areas areformatted in the order from the DMA #1 in this embodiment, the number ofDMA areas and the order of formatting can be changed.

[0083] After all DMA areas are formatted, the data memorized in the DMAinspection result memory portion are read out. If it is decided that allDMA areas have defects (YES in Step #509), the formatting process of theuser data area is not executed. The host is informed of the finish inerror (Step #510), and the formatting process is finished. If there isat least one normal DMA area, the formatting process of the user dataarea is performed (Step #511).

[0084] If the all DMA areas have defects, the magneto-optic disk cannotbe used normally. According to the above-mentioned process, such anerror can be decided in the shortest period in the formatting process.

[0085]FIG. 15 is a detail flowchart of the process formatting the userdata area, which is the process of Step #511 in the flowchart of FIG.13. If a part of plural DMA areas has a defect, the formatting processis executed from the user data area of the band (zone) that includes theDMA area having a defect.

[0086] In FIG. 15, the band number of the DMA area having a defect iscalculated in accordance with the data memorized in the inspectionresult memory portion shown in FIG. 14 (Step #601), and the user dataarea of this band is formatted first (Step #602). If the number ofdefective sectors overflows (YES in Step #603), the host is informed ofan abnormal finish (finish in the defect overflow error) (Step #604.),and the formatting process is finished. Otherwise (NO in Step #603), theprocess continues until all data areas are formatted (YES in Step #605).

[0087] Namely, in accordance with the data memorized in the inspectionresult memory portion, the number of a band to be formatted next iscalculated (Step #606), and the process from Step #602 through Step #605is repeated. When all data areas are formatted (YES in Step #605), theformat result of the user data area is registered in the DMA (Step#607). The host is informed of the normal finish (Step #608), and theformatting process is finished.

[0088]FIG. 16 shows a table of an example of calculating the number ofthe band to be formatted next in accordance with the data memorized inthe inspection result memory portion in Step #601 and Step #606 of FIG.15. In a case A, all the four DMA areas have defects, and the process isfinished without executing the formatting process of the user data area.

[0089] In the case B of FIG. 16, only the DMA #1 is normal, and the DMAs#2, #3 and #4 have defects. In this case, the user data area of the Band#22 including two defective DMA area (see FIG. 11) is formatted first.Next, the user data area of Band #1 including one defective DMA area isformatted. In the case C, only the DMA #2 is normal. In this case, theorder of the formatting process is the same as the case B.

[0090] On the contrary in the case D and case E, the Band #1 includestwo defective DMA area. Therefore, the user data area of the Band #1 isformatted first, and the user data area of the Band #22 including onedefective DMA area is formatted next.

[0091] In the case F, two defective DMA areas are included in the Band#22, and the other two DMA areas are normal. In this case, the user dataarea of the Band #22 is formatted first, and any other band can follow.In the case G, H, I or J, one defective DMA area is included in each ofBand #1 and Band #22, and the other two DMA areas are normal. In thiscase, any one of Band #1 and Band #22 is formatted first, and the otheris formatted next. In the case K, two defective DMA areas are includedin the Band #1, and the other two DMA areas are normal. In this case,the user data area of the Band #1 is formatted first, and any other bandcan follow.

[0092] In the cases L and N, one defective DMA area is included in theBand #22, and the remaining three DMA areas are normal. In this case,user data area of the Band #22 is formatted first, and any other bandcan follow. In the cases M and O, one defective DMA area is included inthe Band #1, and the remaining three DMA areas are normal. In this case,the user data area of the Band #1 is formatted first, and any other bandcan follow. In the case P, each of the four DMA areas has no defect. Inthis case, the formatting process can be executed in any order.

[0093] As explained above, the formatting order is determined bydeciding whether the user data area of the band including each DMA areahas many potential defects in accordance with the format result of theplural DMA areas. Therefore, if the magneto-optic disk generates thedefect number exceeding error, it can occur as early as possible in theformatting process.

[0094] In addition, concerning other user data areas of bands exceptthat including the DMA area, the formatting order can be determined bythe method explained in the-above-mentioned embodiments, so that thedefect number exceeding error can be detected as early as possible. Forexample, in the second formatting process or after the second, asexplained in the first embodiment, the formatting process is executed inthe decreasing number of potential defects in a band in accordance withthe defect information of the magneto-optic disk that was detected inthe last formatting process. Hereinafter, an example will be explainedwith reference to a flowchart shown in FIG. 17, in which the firstembodiment is combined to the present embodiment for determining theorder of formatting the user data area.

[0095] In general, the magneto-optic disk drive 22 performs the processof reading out the information of the DMA area of the magneto-optic disk23 and memorizing the information in a memory within the magneto-opticdisk drive 22 when the magneto-optic disk 23 is inserted. On thisoccasion, if the DMA has defect information detected in the lastformatting process, a flag is set in the box (bit 0) of the DMAinspection result memory portion for indicating whether there isdefective sector information as shown in FIG. 14.

[0096] In the flowchart shown in FIG. 17, when receiving the formatcommand from the host 21 (Step #701), the controlling portion 25 of themagneto-optic disk drive 22 initializes a variable n to zero, which isused for reading out the number of a band to be formatted from theformat order memorizing portion that will be explained later (Step#702). Then, the flag in the inspection result memory portion ischecked, which indicates whether there is defective sector information(Step #703). If the flag is set, i.e., there is defective sectorinformation, a band number is stored in the format order memorizingportion so that the formatting process is executed in the decreasingorder of the number of defects in a band in accordance with the defectinformation detected in the last formatting process and memorized in thememory (Step #704). If the flag is not set, i.e., there is no defectivesector information, a band number is stored in the format ordermemorizing portion so that the formatting process is executed in thenormal order of the band number (Step #705).

[0097]FIG. 18 shows a table of information memorized in the format ordermemorizing portion. The defective sectors are registered as thedefective sector information in a physical address format, whichincludes a band number, a track number and a frame number as shown inFIG. 12. Therefore, the band including a defective sector is decided bythe band number within the physical address.

[0098] When the information memorized in the format order memorizingportion, i.e., the order of the band number in the formatting process isestablished as explained above, the controlling portion 25 reads thenumber of a band to be formatted first (n=0) out of the format ordermemorizing portion (Step #706), and executes the format of the band(Step #707). If the defect number overflow error occurs (YES in Step#708), the host 21 is informed of the finish in error, and the processis finished. If the defect number overflow error does not occur, untilall data areas are formatted (YES in Step #710), the variable n isincremented (Step #711), and the process from the Step #706 through Step#710 is repeated. When all data areas are formatted (YES in Step #710),the host is informed of the normal finish (Step #712), and theformatting process is finished.

[0099]FIG. 19 shows a table of information memorized in the format ordermemorizing portion when the magneto-optic disk 23 is a land and groovetype recording medium in which data are recorded both in lands andgrooves. In this example, when calculating the number of defectivesectors for each band, it is calculated for the land and the grooveseparately, so that the order of the formatting process can bedetermined not only by the band number but also by the land or thegroove unit. Therefore, the number indicating the order of theinspection in the left end box can be 44 kinds from the first to theforty-fourth, i.e., two times the number in the table of FIG. 18. Bit 7is a bit for discriminating the land or the groove.

[0100]FIG. 20 is a block diagram concerning a formatting process of amagneto-optic disk drive according to a fifth embodiment of the presentinvention. In FIG. 20, a numeral 31 denotes a magneto-optic disk medium,a numeral 32 denotes a magneto-optic disk drive for writing and readingthe magneto-optic disk medium 31, and a numeral 33 denotes a host forissuing a physical format command to the magneto-optic disk drive 32.

[0101] The magneto-optic disk drive 32 includes a physical formattingportion 34 for writing initializing data on the magneto-optic diskmedium 31 for the certification, a memory 35, a defect informationobtaining portion 36, a process time informing portion 37, and a quasicertification portion 38.

[0102] The memory 35 memorizes information from the host 33 and defectinformation of the magneto-optic disk medium 31. The defect informationobtaining portion 36 obtains sector addresses of a primary defectlocation (PDL) and a secondary defect location (SDL) included in the DMAwhen the magneto-optic disk medium 31 is inserted in the magneto-opticdisk drive 32. The process time informing portion 37 calculates the timenecessary for the physical format and informs the host of the time. Theoperation of the quasi certification portion 38 will be explained later.

[0103]FIGS. 21 and 22 show a flowchart of a physical formatting processaccording to the fifth embodiment of the present invention. In Step#801, a magneto-optic disk medium 31 is inserted in the magneto-opticdisk drive 32, when the defect information obtaining portion 36 obtainsa PDL address and an SDL address, which are stored in the memory 35(Step #802). In Step #803, the host 33 issues the format command to themagneto-optic disk drive 32, when the physical formatting portion 34calculates the number (including zero) of SDLs of each zone inaccordance with the SDL address that was read out of the memory 35 (Step#804).

[0104] In Step #805, the process time informing portion 37 calculates atotal time of the physical format process in accordance with an averagetime of certification for each zone. Namely, the average certificationtimes for zones to be certified are added so as to calculate the timenecessary for the physical format, and the host is informed of the time.A user can do other jobs until the physical format is finished. Theprocess of Step #805 (or the process time informing portion 37) is notessential but can be omitted.

[0105] In the process after Step #806, the physical formatting portion34 executes the certification for each zone. In Step #807, it is checkedwhether the current zone includes SDL. If there is an SDL, initializingdata are written in Step #808 for the certification process, and thenext zone will be processed (Step #809). If there is no SDL in thecurrent zone, the process goes to Step #809 without executing thecertification. Defective sectors that were detected in the certificationprocess are memorized in a memory 35.

[0106] In Step #810, it is checked whether all zones have beeninitialized (formatted or certified). The process from Step #807 throughStep #810 is repeated until all zones are initialized. When all zonesare initialized, the physical formatting portion 34 merges the PDL thatwas in the uncertified zone before the physical format and defectivesectors that were newly detected in the certification of erasing,writing and verifying so as to record it as a new PDL in the defectinformation recording area (DMA) of the magneto-optic disk medium 31 inStep #811. In the final Step #812, the end of the physical format isinformed to the host 33 and the process is finished.

[0107] In general, it is considered that a zone having no SDL (secondarydefect information) has not been used after the physical format or hasnot generated a writing error, so the zone does not require thecertification again. According to this presumption, the presentembodiment can shorten the time necessary for the physical format byomitting the certification of zones having no SDL in the physicalformat.

[0108] In a variation of the above-mentioned embodiment, a quasicertification can be executed instead of omitting the certification ofthe current zone having no SDL in Step #807. The quasi certificationportion 38 shown in FIG. 20 can work for this process. In FIG. 22, if itis NO in Step #807, the quasi certification portion 38 executes thequasi certification before going to Step #809.

[0109] There are two kinds of well-known methods for the quasicertification. One of them is a quasi certification that performs only aread check of data (verify with initialized data such as “CF23” inhexadecimal). The other is a quasi certification that performs only aread check of ECC (data for check). The latter requires shorter time forthe process but cannot detect an error that beyond the detection abilityof ECC. In any method, the total time of format process becomes longerthan the case where no certification process is executed, but thereliability of the format increases. In addition, the time necessary forthe quasi certification is still shorter than the case where thecertification of erasing, writing and verifying is performed.

[0110] When the quasi certification is performed, defective sectors thatwere detected in the quasi certification and defective sectors that weredetected in the certification of erasing, writing and verifying aremerged, and the newly generated PDL is recorded in the defectinformation recording area (DMA) of the magneto-optic disk medium 31 inStep #811 of FIG. 22.

[0111]FIG. 23 is a block diagram concerning a formatting process of amagneto-optic disk drive according to a sixth embodiment of the presentinvention. There is only one difference between the sixth embodiment andthe fifth embodiment shown in FIG. 20. It is that the defect informationobtaining portion 36 is replaced with an initialized data readingportion 39.

[0112]FIGS. 24 and 25 show a flowchart of a physical formatting processaccording to the sixth embodiment. In Step #901, the magneto-optic diskmedium 31 is inserted in the magneto-optic disk drive 32, when thedefect information obtaining portion 36 obtains a PDL address and an SDLaddress, which are stored in the memory 35 (Step #902). In Step #903,the host 33 issues the format command to the magneto-optic disk drive32, when the initialized data reading portion 39 reads all data of thedesignated zone (Step #904).

[0113] If a read error occurs (YES in Step #905), the reading process ofthe zone is halted, and the memory 35 memorizes that the current zone isthe object of the certification (Step #907) before going to the nextzone to be read (Step #908). If data different from the initialized data(e.g., “CF23” in hexadecimal) are detected in the data of the designatedzone (NO in Step #906), the reading process of the zone is also halted,and the memory 35 memorizes that the current zone is the object of thecertification (Step #907) before going to the next zone to be read (Step#908).

[0114] In Step #909, it is checked whether all zones have been read. Theprocess from Step #904 through Step #909 is repeated until all zones areread. After all zones are read, the process time informing portion 37adds average certification times of the zones to be certified so as tocalculate the total time necessary for the physical format in Step #910,which is informed to the host. The process of Step #910 (or the processtime informing portion 37) is not essential and can be omitted.

[0115] In the process after Step #911, the physical formatting portion34 executes the certification for each zone. In Step #912, it is checkedwhether the current zone is a zone to be certified. As explained above,zones to be certified are memorized in the memory 35 in Step #907. Ifthe current zone is a zone to be certified, initializing data arewritten for executing the certification process in Step #913, followedby the process for the next zone (Step #914). If the current zone is nota zone to be certified, the process goes to Step #914 without executingthe certification. Defective sectors that were detected in thecertification process are memorized in the memory 35.

[0116] In Step #915, it is checked whether all zones have beeninitialized. The process from Step #912 through Step #915 is repeateduntil all zones are initialized. After all zones arc initialized, thephysical formatting portion 34 merges the PDL that was in theuncertified zone before the physical format and defective sectors thatwere newly detected in the certification of erasing, writing andverifying so as to record it as a new PDL in the defect informationrecording area (DMA) of the magneto-optic disk medium 31 in Step #916.In the final Step #917, the end of the physical format is informed tothe host 33 and the process is finished.

[0117] In general, there is high possibility that a zone in whichinitialized data remain has not been used and does not require thecertification again. According to this presumption, the presentembodiment can shorten the time necessary for the physical format byomitting the certification of zones in which initialized data remain inthe physical format. In order to decide whether the current zone needsthe certification, the data reading step (Step #904) is required.However, the additional step of only reading requires shorter time thanthe certification of erasing, writing and verifying.

[0118] In a variation of the above-mentioned embodiment, only a part ofdata can be read instead of reading all data of the designated zone inStep #904. For example, a predetermined number of sectors of the leadingportion, the middle portion and the end portion of each zone can beread. If data different from the initialized data are detected in thosedata (NO in Step #906), the zone is memorized as a zone to be certifiedin Step #907.

[0119] Thus, the reading time for deciding whether the current zoneneeds the certification can be shortened. As a result, the total timenecessary for the physical format can be further shortened.

[0120] In another variation of the above-mentioned embodiment, a quasicertification can be executed instead of omitting the certificationprocess when the current zone is not to be certified, i.e., datadifferent from the initialized data were not detected in Step #912. Thequasi certification portion 38 shown in FIG. 23 performs this process.In FIG. 25, if it is NO in Step #912, the quasi certification portion 38executes the quasi certification before going to Step #914.

[0121] The quasi certification performs only the read check of the dataor the ECC (data of check) as explained above. The total time of theformat process becomes longer than the case where no certificationprocess is executed, but the reliability increases. In addition, thetime necessary for the quasi certification is still shorter than thecase where the certification of erasing, writing and verifying isperformed.

[0122] When the quasi certification is performed, defective sectors thatwere detected in the quasi certification and defective sectors that weredetected in the certification of erasing, writing and verifying aremerged, and the newly generated PDL is recorded in the defectinformation recording area (DMA) of the magneto-optic disk medium 31 inStep #916 of FIG. 25.

[0123] The several embodiments of the present invention explained abovecan be combined in any combination.

[0124] As explained above, the present invention provides a method offormatting a disk recording medium as well as an information recordingand reproducing apparatus in which the formatting process is executednot in the order of logical address from inner radius to outer radius orthe opposite order as the conventional method, but in the discontinuousorder of the number of potential defects in accordance with the resultof the last format or characteristics of the disk recording medium.Therefore, if the defect number exceeding error occurs, it can bedetected in earlier stage than the conventional formatting process.

[0125] In addition, the certification including three steps of erasing,writing and verifying is not executed for zones that are considered torequire no certification, or only a quasi certification is executed forthose zones, so that the total time necessary for the physical formatcan be shortened.

[0126] While the presently preferred embodiments of the presentinvention have been shown and described, it will be understood that thepresent invention is not limited thereto, and that various changes andmodifications may be made by those skilled in the art without departingfrom the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of formatting a disk recording medium,comprising the steps of: dividing a data recording area of the diskrecording medium into plural zones in the radial direction; formattingthe plural zones in a discontinuous order; and managing defectinformation for each of the plural zones.
 2. A disk recording mediumcomprising: a data recording area being divided into plural zones in theradial direction; a defect management area for managing defectinformation for each of the plural zones; and the plural zones beingformatted in a discontinuous order.
 3. An apparatus for recording andreproducing digital information using a disk recording medium in which adata recording area is divided into plural zones in the radialdirection, and defect information is managed for each of the pluralzones, the apparatus comprising: means for formatting the disk recordingmedium; means for detecting defect information of the disk recordingmedium; and means for controlling the order of format by informing theformatting means of a zone to be formatted next in decreasing order ofthe number of defects in accordance with the defect information detectedby the detecting means.
 4. The apparatus according to claim 3, whereinthe disk recording medium is a land and groove recording type in whichdata are recorded in both lands and grooves, defect information of eachzone is managed for lands and grooves separately, and the order offormat is determined for the lands and the grooves of each zone.
 5. Anapparatus for recording and reproducing digital information using a diskrecording medium in which a data recording area is divided into pluralzones in the radial direction, and defect information is managed foreach of the plural zones, the apparatus comprising: means for formattingthe disk recording medium; means for detecting medium information suchas a manufacturer of the disk recording medium; and means forcontrolling the order of format by informing the formatting means of azone to be formatted next in the preregistered order corresponding tothe medium information detected by the detecting means.
 6. The apparatusaccording to claim 5, wherein the disk recording medium is a land andgroove recording type in which data are recorded in both lands andgrooves, defect information of each zone is managed for lands andgrooves separately, and the order of format is determined for the landsand the grooves of each zone.
 7. An apparatus for recording andreproducing digital information using a disk recording medium in which adata recording area is divided into plural zones in the radialdirection, and defect information is managed for each of the pluralzones, the apparatus comprising: means for formatting the disk recordingmedium; means for controlling the order of format by informing theformatting means of a zone to be formatted next at an interval of one ormore zones and of the neighboring zones if the number of defects in thezone is higher than the threshold value.
 8. The apparatus according toclaim 7, wherein the disk recording medium is a land and grooverecording type in which data are recorded in both lands and grooves,defect information of each zone is managed for lands and groovesseparately, and the order of format is determined for the lands and thegrooves of each zone.
 9. An apparatus for recording and reproducingdigital information using a disk recording medium in which a datarecording area is divided into plural zones in the radial direction, anddefect information is managed for each of the plural zones, wherein theapparatus formats a DMA area for recording the defect information beforeformatting a user data area, and finishes the formatting process as anerror without formatting the user data area if a defect occurs duringthe formatting process of the DMA area.
 10. The apparatus according toclaim 9, plural DMA areas for recording the same defect information areprovided at plural positions of the disk recording medium, and theapparatus formats the user data area from the zone in which the DMA areahaving a defect is included if a part of the DMA areas has a defect andother parts have no defect.
 11. A method of formatting a disk recordingmedium in which a data recording area is divided into plural zones inthe radial direction and defect information is managed for each of theplural zones, the method comprising the steps of: obtaining SDLinformation of the disk recording medium by defect information obtainingmeans; detecting zones having the SDL information as zones to becertified; and certifying only the zones that were detected to becertified by erasing, writing and verifying.
 12. The method according toclaim 11, further comprising the step of informing a host of the timeuntil the finish of the formatting process by a process time informingmeans.
 13. The method according to claim 11, further comprising the stepof performing quasi certification of the zones that were not detected tobe certified.
 14. A method of formatting a disk recording medium inwhich a data recording area is divided into plural zones in the radialdirection and defect information is managed for each of the pluralzones, the method comprising the steps of: reading data of each zone byinitialized data reading portion; detecting zones having data exceptinitialized data as zones to be certified; and certifying only the zonesthat were detected to be certified by erasing, writing and verifying.15. The method according to claim 14, further comprising the step ofinforming a host of the time until the finish of the formatting processby a process time informing means.
 16. The method according to claim 14,further comprising the step of performing quasi certification of thezones that were not detected to be certified.